{"id":11418,"date":"2016-11-04T12:58:45","date_gmt":"2016-11-04T16:58:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/digital.hbs.edu\/platform-rctom\/submission\/boeing-and-the-move-to-low-emissions-aircraft\/"},"modified":"2016-11-04T13:00:34","modified_gmt":"2016-11-04T17:00:34","slug":"boeing-and-the-move-to-low-emissions-aircraft","status":"publish","type":"hck-submission","link":"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/submission\/boeing-and-the-move-to-low-emissions-aircraft\/","title":{"rendered":"Boeing and the move to low-emissions aircraft"},"content":{"rendered":"

The aerospace and defense industry is one of the world\u2019s largest greenhouse gas contributors. Aviation sources alone account for 2% of total carbon dioxide emissions.[1]<\/a> In response to growing awareness of the challenges posed by global warming, the US Department of Defense (DOD) has started placing greater importance on the need to recognize and prepare for the challenges of climate change in the years to come. In January 2016, the DOD Directive 4715.21 tasked a number of key leaders and subsets of the organization with a range of climate change-oriented initiatives, including increased scrutiny of \u201cmaterials acquisition and supply.\u201d[2]<\/a><\/p>\n

The Boeing Company is a key player in the aerospace and defense industry. Boeing is a $96 billion company that provides a variety of aviation products and services such as commercial airplanes, military aircraft, network and space systems, and IT services.[3]<\/a> It employs 161,400 workers in the US and in a variety of countries worldwide.[4]<\/a> There are few small companies in the aerospace and defense industry; Boeing\u2019s competitors include other large multinational corporations like Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, and Airbus Group.[5]<\/a> As such, Boeing is a crucial contributor to aviation technology worldwide.<\/p>\n

Boeing is particularly susceptible to criticism over greenhouse gas emissions. Over two-thirds of Boeing\u2019s revenues come from sales to commercial airlines, a market that is increasingly criticized for its role in contributing to global climate change.[6]<\/a> In response to growing concerns, Boeing has published a separate \u201cEnvironment Report\u201d each year since 2008, which stresses initiatives such as fuel efficiency put forth by the company.[7]<\/a> As a company, Boeing has made a significant effort to provide greater transparency into the effects of their production process and how the company will reduce environmental impact.<\/p>\n

Boeing\u2019s leadership reframes the pressure to design low-emission aviation products as an opportunity rather than a threat. Boeing\u2019s 2015 Environmental Report takes note of the close connection between transportation costs, fuel costs, and fuel efficiency.[8]<\/a> In other words, the more fuel-efficient an aircraft, the lower the fuel costs will be to the airliner, and the more cost savings can be passed on to the customer \u2013 all while reducing emissions. Scott Carson, the former CEO of Boeing, notes:<\/p>\n

\u201cOver the past 50 years, the efficiency of commercial jets has risen an astounding 70%. This means that carbon emissions per mile flown have dropped 70% — all without a regulatory requirement for greenhouse gas emissions.\u201d<\/em>[9]<\/a><\/p>\n

In this case, the interests are aligned between Boeing, the airline industry, and the global citizen concerned about the effects of carbon emissions. Each party has an incentive to reduce emissions without the need for excessive regulation. The 2015 Environmental Report mentions various design programs including improvements to the \u201cDreamliner Family,\u201d the 747-8, the 737-MAX, and the 777X aircraft models, which will make them between 10 and 30 percent more efficient than the original models.[10]<\/a><\/p>\n

Recently, Boeing has begun exploring possibilities in the field of renewable energy technology. In particular, they approached NASA with the idea of jointly developing possibilities for an onboard fuel cell that converts byproducts of the jet fuel burning process into additional electricity for the aircraft.[11]<\/a> In the years to come, Boeing could explore additional opportunities to design products that both reduce emissions and generate energy to meet growing demand. For example, Lockheed Martin, one of Boeing\u2019s key competitors, has made an unprecedented foray into the field of renewable energy generation: they are developing a buoy project that generates enough electric power from ocean wave movements to power 10,000 homes.[12]<\/a><\/p>\n

Going forward, Boeing can make a considerable impact on reducing emissions in the future, especially given that the company accounts for a sizeable fraction of the 2% emissions from the airline industry in general. First, the company should continue the push for aviation innovations that encourage long term gains in fuel efficiency. Second, the company should try to achieve 0% growth in carbon emissions for its production process by 2020, in order to match the gains in low-emissions aircraft with gains in their own production efficiency. Third, Boeing should continue to explore opportunities in alternative energy sources, as that represents a low-emissions and low-cost energy source for future aircraft.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

(796)<\/p>\n

[1]<\/a> Air Transport Action Group. \u201cFacts and Figures.\u201d Web. November 4, 2016. Retrieved from http:\/\/www.atag.org\/facts-and-figures.html.<\/p>\n

[2]<\/a> US Department of Defense. \u201cDOD Directive 4715.12: Climate Change Adaptation and Resiliance.\u201d Effective January 14, 2016.<\/p>\n

[3]<\/a> The Boeing Company. (2015). Form 10-K 2015. Retrieved from https:\/\/www.sec.gov\/Archives\/edgar\/data\/12927\/000001292716000099\/a201512dec3110k.htm<\/p>\n

[4]<\/a> Ibid.<\/p>\n

[5]<\/a> Ibid.<\/p>\n

[6]<\/a> Ibid.<\/p>\n

[7]<\/a> The Boeing Company. \u201c2015 Environmental Report.\u201d Retrieved from http:\/\/www.boeing.com\/resources\/boeingdotcom\/principles\/environment\/pdf\/2015_environment_report.pdf.<\/p>\n

[8]<\/a> Ibid. Page 10.<\/p>\n

[9]<\/a> Carson, Scott. \u201cHow Boeing Fights Climate Change.\u201d The Wall Street Journal. May 23, 2009. Retrieved from http:\/\/www.wsj.com\/articles\/SB124303177241948493.<\/p>\n

[10]<\/a> The Boeing Company. 2015 Environmental Report. Page 11.<\/p>\n

[11]<\/a> NASA. \u201cNASA is catalyst for hydrogen technology.\u201d October 21, 2014. Retrieved from http:\/\/climate.nasa.gov\/news\/2160\/nasa-is-catalyst-for-hydrogen-technology\/.<\/p>\n

[12]<\/a> Forbes. \u201cLockheed Backs World\u2019s Largest Wave Energy Project.\u201d February 11, 2014. Retrieved from http:\/\/www.forbes.com\/sites\/williampentland\/2014\/02\/11\/lockheed-backs-worlds-largest-wave-energy-project\/#13d5057912e4.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Boeing Company sees opportunities to lead the aerospace and defense industry in designing low-emissions fuel-efficient aircraft.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2306,"featured_media":11419,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","template":"","categories":[],"class_list":["post-11418","hck-submission","type-hck-submission","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"connected_submission_link":"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/assignment\/climate-change-challenge-2016\/","yoast_head":"\nBoeing and the move to low-emissions aircraft - Technology and Operations Management<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/d3.harvard.edu\/platform-rctom\/submission\/boeing-and-the-move-to-low-emissions-aircraft\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Boeing and the move to low-emissions aircraft - 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